Obituaries: August 29, 2012

Thomas I. Crawford of Bath, Mich. born September 6, 1946, the son of James and Lorene (Crisp) Crawford; died August 23, 2012 at the age of 65.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers Gerald and Mark Crawford. He is survived by his wife Dixie (Grimes) Crawford; daughter, Carla Swan; son, Thomas (Rhonda) Crawford, Jr.; grandchildren, Tayler and Abby Crawford and Casey and Corey Swan; great-granddaughter Sophia Wright; brothers, Chet (Sally), James (Linda), Reg (Audrey), and Rod Crawford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Thomas loved to hunt, golf and enjoyed all sports. He was quite the handyman who could do anything. Thomas had a great sense of humor and enjoyed making others laugh. He was passionate about his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Memorial Funeral Services will be on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Bath United Methodist Church, 13777 Main Street, Bath, MI, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Mark Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church. Those desiring may make contributions to Mother Teresa House, 308 N. Walnut, Lansing, MI 48933 in memory of Thomas. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, DeWitt Chapel. Memories may be shared with the family at http://www.grdewitt.com

Jean Lenore LaRue

Jean Lenore LaRue, age 85, passed away August 26, 2012 at the home of her daughter, Jean Carol LaRue, in Cheyenne, Wyo.; after a long illness of Alzheimer s disease. Jean was born October 26, 1926 in North Rudyard, Michigan. Jean grew up in Hulbert. She worked for the J. Shepherd Manufacturing Company in Hulbert specializing in the manufacture of wooden bowls and handles. In March of 1947 she met the love of her life Alton Charles LaRue and on July 26, 1947, they were married in Newberry.

She was a wonderful wife, the best mom in the world, a loving grandmother and great grandmother. She loved to cook and bake. Everyone that came to her home always got her famous chocolate chip cookies. Holidays at her home were the greatest and a guaranteed 5 pounds added on. Every summer she would take her children to pick strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. She always had a big garden and did a lot of canning. She enjoyed all of her flower beds each summer.

You would always find grandchildren at her home, they were her passion. She spent hours playing Yahtzee and Skippo with her grandchildren, playing her way. She was always willing to help friends and family. She worked as a motel maid for many years. She was a past member of Tops, Royal Neighbors of America, and the Hulbert American Legion, Ladies Auxiliary. She did a lot of traveling in her later years with her daughter, including going to Disney World at 78, and going down Splash Mountain, Runaway train and the GM race Track.

Friends and family may call Friday, August 31, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clark Bailey Newhouse Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 1, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post in Hulbert with Pastor, Joseph Leazier, officiating. Final resting place will be Hulbert Township Cemetery, Hulbert.